By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
As of Monday, Thrive Northumberland has relaunched its weekly drop-in centre for women and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault or trafficking.
Available each Monday from 9 a.m. to noon, this support is available to address the many needs this vulnerable population faces.
“From crisis counselling to harm reduction, income and employment support to shelter information, children’s services to housing services, family-court support to safety planning,” the announcement listed – “women, children and youth will have direct access to the help they need to feel safe and supported.”
The services provides immediate real-time support, one conversation connecting women, children and youth to a network of community-based professionals from Cornerstone Family Violence Prevention Centre, Peterborough AIDS Resource Network, Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre, Highland Shores Children’s Aid Society, Northumberland County’s Community and Social Services division, the Help Centre, Northumberland Community Counselling Centre, the Peterborough Women’s Health Care Centre’s Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Nurse and FourCast Addiction Services.
Thrive Northumberland Project Consultant Nicole Beatty said the sessions are an effort to enhance services during COVID-19 and beyond.
“We are introducing a virtual support component to our drop-in centre in an effort to meet women where they are,” Beatty said.
“Women and female-identifying persons in distress, in crisis or in need of a free consultation – or youth looking to access resources – can connect with front-line workers in a matter of seconds.
“At Thrive, we listen to women. We aim to remove barriers to support and, with our virtual service, we hope to be able to reach out to more women and children, in particular those living in rural and remote Northumberland. Our coalition of service providers are here to help survivors thrive, heal and recover.”
You can connect with this important resource Monday mornings on a walk-in basis at 40 Swayne St., Cobourg, where COVID-19 safety protocols are in place.
You can connect virtually by testing 289-677-5510 or via webchat at thrivenorthumberland.com
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
